Routledge Social Theory as a Vocation: Genres of Theory Work in Sociology

In this unprecedented collection, Donald N. Levine rejuvenates the field of social theory in the face of lagging institutional support. The work canvasses the universe of types of theory work in sociology and offers probing examples from his array of scholarly investigations. Social Theory as a Vocation throws fresh light on the texts of classic authors (Comte, Durkheim, Simmel, Weber, Park, Parsons, and Merton). Ranging widely, its substantive chapters deal with the sociology of strangers and the somatic dimensions of social conflict; the social functions of ambiguity and the use of metaphors in science; contemporary dilemmas of Ethiopian society; logical tensions in the ideas of freedom and reason; and the meaning of nationhood in our global era. The book includes Levine's transformative analysis of the field of Ethiopian studies, and his acclaimed interpretation of the discontents of modernity. It makes the bold move to merge philosophically informed analyses with empirical work. Finally, Levine focuses on what he views as the contemporary crisis of liberal education, and offers suggestions for ways to stimulate new efforts in teaching and learning to do social theory. This book is an integral contribution to social science collections and should be read by all interested in the future of the social sciences. Review -[Social Theory as a Vocation] is a worthy conclusion of a lifetime of work on rejuvenating, or indeed resurrecting, the genre of sociological theory. . . . Levine was one of the most prominent custodians of the sociological tradition in American scholarship. . . . A crucial aspect of social theory as vocation, as explained in the book's prologue, is to enhance 'morally informed discourses resting on good sociological knowledge' in order to 'promote more enlightened public policies and ideas for creating better lives.' . . .There can be no doubt as to the profound interplay between Levine's vision of sociological theory as vocation and his ideal of the university, another Leitmotif of his writing.- --Marta Bucholc, Max Weber Studies -Examining the career of Donald N. Levine . . . theory is rarely or never isolated from actual empirical work . . . Levine remained critical of narrow empirical research undertaken without supporting clear aims, dissecting caches of data with no arguable significance; uses concepts in sloppy and unrevealing ways; propounds claims that rest on facile argumentation; and ignores relevant prior work . . . - --Bryan S. Turner, Journal of Classical Sociology -No one among our contemporaries knows more about social theory than Donald Levine. The essays between these covers offer both a cornucopia of insights into classical social thought and a rousing call for the intelligent practice of theory today. Lucid, humane, historically rich, and productive of new ideas and connections between ideas, Social Theory as a Vocation is a beacon of good sense and intellectual integrity. Kudos to Transaction Publishers for making these updated essays available in an accessible, compact form.- --Peter Baehr, Lingnan University, Hong Kong -Exhilarating! For the last half century, Donald Levine has been one of the world's preeminent voices in the field of sociological theory, and this volume brings together over two dozen of the dazzling gems from his extraordinarily productive career. With razor-sharp analyses of thinkers from the classical to the contemporary era, along with seminal treatments of some of the most basic concepts in the discourse of sociological theory, Levine's chapters serve to inform users of that discourse everywhere. The volume's previously-uncirculated opening chapter, 'Social Theory as a Vocation' presents the most eloquent and persuasive case ever put forth for pursuing the project of social theory. No sociologist, whether novice or veteran, can afford to miss it.- --Charles Camic, Northwestern University -In a remarkable collection of essays sp